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Henry Blog: Ostaszewski's bicycle ride reaches N.M.

Looking to inspire children during his bicycle ride across America, those same children are inspiring Joe Ostaszewski.

"It's amazing to see that spark of energy, that compassion. … that you can do it, that they believe in themselves," Ostaszewski said Tuesday morning from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"It is amazing to see that switch come on. Whether they complete it, it's not an easy task. But that switch is at least getting turned on."

Ostaszewski, the former Florida State defensive lineman, is 1,900-miles into his 2,700-mile bicycle ride across America to help raise awareness and funds to fight child obesity.

Ostaszewski has stopped at schools, 4-H Clubs, churches, parks and community centers along the route during his "Riding It Forward" campaign to stress the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Thousands and thousands of children – parents, too – have signed the "Riding It Forward" RV with their pledge to healthy living.

It's needed because this fact is startling:

In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even in the smiling faces of children, Joe Ostaszewski can recognize sadness, too.

"Kids who have gotten trapped in their virtual worlds (computer games), they are still kids," said Ostaszewski, who dropped 147 pounds and was a finalist on the reality television show "Biggest Loser" n 2013.

"They still want to go out and enjoy an adventure. They don't want to sit in the house and play video games all day. They want to be out and be active. I know how I felt as an adult when I lost control and was morbidly obese.

"I can't imagine how it feels growing up that way, you are trapped. They are clinically depressed in that state."

Ostaszewski's ride started in Maryland on July 31 and is scheduled to end at the "Biggest Loser Ranch" in Calabasas, California, on Sept. 26, making 42 stops in nine states along the way.